Surname Mahmood - Meaning and Origin

Illuminating Personal Identity and Heritage: A Mahmood's Insight from DNA Test

The experience with my iGENEA DNA test was proxy to a journey into the past, exploring both familiar and unfamiliar landscapes, bringing a better understanding of my roots and heritage. It revealed an unexpected complexity of my lineage, intertwining with great civilizations, cultures, and ethnicities.

Q. Mahmood

Mahmood: What does the surname Mahmood mean?

The last name Mahmood is a common Muslim surname, with its origin from the Arabic word “Mahmood”, which literally translates to “the praised one”. It is often used as a reference to Prophet Muhammad, meaning his praised one. People with this surname are likely to have direct ancestry from the Prophet, as it is adopted as an honorific among the descendants of Muhammad in the Middle East.

Over time, the name spread through the region and became one of the most common and diverse last names, with people across the Middle East, South Asia, North America, and Europe claiming it as their own. It is a marker of a mixed lineage of Muslims, Christians, Jews and people from other ancient tribes, representing the region’s multiculturalism and religious diversity.

Originally, it was linked to Islam but in more modern times, it has become less of a religious signifier and is increasing seen in broader contexts connected to family identity, endearment, and pride. It is a symbol of family legacy, originating from a Prophet celebrated by Muslims of all backgrounds globally.

The last name has remained a strong marker of identity even in diaspora communities today, representing a legacy of strong faith and inspiring leadership which can be traced back in history.

Mahmood: Where does the name Mahmood come from?

The last name Mahmood is a common name in many cultures today. It is found primarily in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central and South Asia. It is also popular among Muslims in the United States, Western Europe, and the United Kingdom.

The Arabic origin of the name Mahmoodis is derived from the root word 'mah' which means "praiseworthy". It can also be spelt as Mohammed, Muhammed, Mohammed and Muhamad. This variation of the name commonly occurs in its translation to English.

This popular surname is typically seen with multiple spellings, ranging from Mahmod to Mahmood. In some cultures, Mahmood is a title given to someone who has achieved something significant. For example, it is a part of the title Sultan in Malaysia, known as Sultan Mahmood.

This name is most common in countries such as Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia, as well as among Muslims living in the United Kingdom, the United States, and several parts of Europe. The name is spreading further, and is increasingly heard in various parts of the world.

Overall, Mahmood is a common last name today, mostly due to its roots in Middle Eastern and South Asian countries, but also its recent spread among Muslims living in the rest of the world. Its popularity is likely to keep increasing in the future.

Variations of the surname Mahmood

The surname Mahmood (pronounced mah-MOOD) is a variation of the male Muslim name Muhammad, meaning "the one who is praised". Variants of the surname Mahmood include Mahmud, Mahmut, Mohmmad, Mohamad, Mohamed and Mohammad. It can also be spelt differently, such as Mahmood and Mahmud.

The surname Mahmood is typically found among Muslims and can be further divided into two forms, one being used in the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia and Iraq and the other used in South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In the Middle Eastern countries, Mahmood is usually written as Mahmud, Mahmut or Mahmoed and can be found in many forms such as Mahmudian, Mahmoudi, Ma'Moud and Mahmoudy.

In South Asia, the surname Mahmood is typically written as Mohammed, Mohamed or Mohammad and variants include Mohamud, Mohammedi, Mohammadi, Mohommed, Muhamed or Mohamedi.

There are many different surnames derived from the same origin as Mahmood, such as Ahmed, Ahmadi and Ahmadzai. These have variations such as Ahmet, Ahmady and Ahmadzadeh. Other Islamic surname variants include Arif, Asef and Asefy, which have variations such as Arifin, Assef and Assefy.

The surname Mahmood has been given to people in many countries and is still largely identified in the Middle East, South Asia and beyond. To this day, many families have kept their name and have followed various family customs and traditions associated with being a Mahmood.

Famous people with the name Mahmood

• Muhammad Mahmood Ali: Minister of External Affairs and the Minister of State for the affairs of Parliamentary in India.
• Samina Mahmood: A Pakistani Actress, Producer and Director.
• Farrukh Mahmood: A Pakistani cricketer and prominent coach.
• Ammar Mahmood: A Kuwaiti professional football player.
• Ali Mahmood: Reputed Pakistani Singer
• Mahmood Yakub: a former Pakistani cricketer
• Kwabena Mahmood: A British Actor and Writer
• Laila Lavanant Mahmood: A Pakistani Actress, Producer, Director and Writer
• Anwar Mahmood: A Pakistani Politician
• Mehru Mahmood: A Pakistani Television Producer and Director

Other surnames

MahmodMahmoodiMahmoud